Frequently Asked Questions

How many students does Spring Knolls have per class?

To ensure the safety of our students and staff, we will follow all MSDE, OCC and CDC guidelines and regulations related to health and safety measures during the time of COVID-19. As part of this, our classes will be capped at the following number of students per class:

  • 2-Day Twos class (Thurs, Fri) = 8
  • 3-Day Twos class (Mon, Tues, Wed) = 8
  • Threes and PreK classes = 8-10



What are the staff:student ratios?

  • 2-Day Twos class = 3:8
  • 3-Day Twos class = 3:10
  • Threes class = 4:18
  • Pre-K class = 4:20



What schedule do you follow?

The school calendar is set each year by the Board of Directors and guided by Montgomery County Public Schools. Generally, the school year begins the first week in September, after Labor Day, and ends the first week in June. Spring Knolls closely follows Montgomery County Public Schools policy regarding inclement weather closings.



When will I know about my child’s status at Spring Knolls?

Children entering the Twos classes must be two years old by the start of the September term. For specific reasons, Spring Knolls aims to put younger 2-year olds (those turning 3 in March or later) in the 2-Day Twos class (which meets Thursday and Friday), and older 2-year olds (those turning 3 before March) in the 3-Day Twos class (which meets Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). These are guidelines, and the admissions committee reserves the authority to make final class placements.



Are children admitted on a “first come, first in” basis? If not, what are the Spring Knolls selection criteria?

Spring Knolls has a waiting pool of applicants, as opposed to a chronological “waiting list.” The admissions policy (see page 2 of the Parent Handbook), is as follows:
Maintaining a diverse student population, reasonable age and gender balance, and adequate proportion of co-oping parents at each class level are primary goals of Spring Knolls, as is a commitment to the children of Spring Knolls parents, alumni, and staff. Spring Knolls therefore gives priority to applicants whose admission would further on or more of these goals. Because there may be more applicants than available spaces in particular classes, it may not be possible to admit all priority applicants in a given year.



What will I have to pay before September if my child is offered a place?

If a slot is offered to your child, you must pay (within a specified time stated with the offer) the equivalent of one month’s current tuition in order to hold your place. This deposit will ultimately be applied to your tuition payment for the month of June the following year. This deposit is non-refundable. The school membership votes on tuition increases for the following school year at the Spring Parent Meeting held in April. (If an increase occurs, it is usually 3-5%.) This increase would be reflected in the September tuition statement.



Besides tuition, what are a family’s responsibilities upon becoming members of the Spring Knolls community?

All families who accept the placement offer and enroll their child in Spring Knolls will be required to read and sign the Parent-School Agreement. This agreement outlines the financial and voluntary obligations of families vis-à-vis the school, and ensures that both the families and the school have a clear understanding of expectations before the school year begins. This also serves as an opportunity for new families to get more information about how the school runs and ask any additional questions they might have. Spring Knolls is a co-operative pre-school, which means that the much of the school’s operation is reliant upon the efforts of its member families. Upon joining Spring Knolls, families make both a financial and a time commitment to the smooth running of the school. Details can be found on the Family Responsibilities page.



What is a “normal class day” like?

Detailed descriptions of each class can be found on our Classes & Programs pages: Twos, Threes, or Pre-K. Each class follows a similar basic structure with varying activities designed to suite the particular developmental needs of the given age group. The general schedule of the day includes:

  • supervised free play
  • circle time with songs and morning greetings
  • teacher-directed activities (depending on the age of the children, this may included water play, art projects, cooking, science experiments, books and writing table work, puzzles, etc.)
  • toileting and hand washing
  • snack
  • outdoor play (or indoor play in the gym during inclement weather)



What is the tuition for students at Spring Knolls?

Please see our Fees page.



What time does the school operate?

Early dropoff*: 8:30 - 9:00am Twos, Threes, Pre-K Classes: 9:00am - 12:00pm Lunch Bunch*: 12:00 - 1:30pm STEAM*: 12:00 - 3:00pm Office Hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm *Additional Cost